-Taped from Philadelphia, PA
-Your hosts are Bryce Remsburg and Drew Gulak (CZW Wired Television Champion)
I may have vowed to never review a wXw show ever again after last year. However, when you book Chris Hero against Daisuke Sekimoto, that will change my mind. Even if the rest of the card blows, I’m confident the world title match will rule.
-Johnny Gargano vs. Emil Sitoci vs. Brandon Gatson vs. Chuck Taylor
Match in Five Words or Less: These Two Together Again
Match Summary/Analysis: This is the east coast debut of one Brandon Gatson. But seriously, how do Gargano and Taylor get put together IN EVERY COMPANY? It’s gone from coincidence to running gag. Gargano and Taylor start before the bell even rings. I guess no tags are necessary in this particular match. The idea behind this match is these four guys are trying to earn their chops in wXw. Taylor and Gargano use a double team acecrusher, but Gargano won’t let Taylor get the win. Continued double teaming on Gatson. Sitoci uses Gatson as a springboard for a dive. Then Gatson hits his patented Sasuke special. Everyone takes turns controlling portions of the match. Taylor even comes with a springboard roll-up through the middle ropes. By the way, we have a name for the swinging neckbreaker he did in the six man tag. Rolling Dice Bread. Good name. Sitoci finally hits a spinning tombstone for the victory. This was an acceptable opener and fine way to start the show.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Emil Sitoci/5:50/**1/4
-Bad Bones vs. Sami Calihan
Match in Five Words or Less: No Sell
Match Summary/Analysis: After Bad Bones’ behavior at last year’s wXw Philly show, I’m shocked wXw would bother bringing him to the states. I’m not the biggest Sami Calihan fan, but for the purposes of this match, he’s my favorite wrestler in the world. Calihan is the 2011 wXw 16 Karat tournament winner. Bad Bones is the 2008 winner of that same tournament. My friend walked by while I was reviewing this show and referred to what he was seeing at face slapping. That’s what they start doing. Some striking as well. Bones hits a botched vertical suplex on the apron. Overhead suplex by Calihan on Bones. No sold of course. Bones hits a spear. If you wanted selling in this match, I’m sorry. Back in the ring as they beat up each other some more. This match is like watching a video game. No working over of body parts or psychology. They just do moves right after another and nowhere near as entertaining or with as much precission as the Dragon Gate guys do. Despite not having worked the leg the entire match, Calihan hooks the stretch muffler, cinches down on it, and gets the tapout win. Some people will like this match, but as I’m not a fan of either guy, I thought it was uninspired “strong style.”
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Sami Calihan/9:11/*1/2
-Brodie Lee and Big Van Walter vs. Michael Elgin and Johnny Moss
Match in Five Words or Less: Hoss
Match Summary/Analysis: Some kid gets in Brodie’s face before the match. Is he outside of his mind? And what the hell is a kid doing at a show where a barb wire is taking place? Great parenting in Philly. wXw sure does like their hosses. Wouldn’t expect many dives in this match either. Bryce Remsburg even uses the word hoss! Copycat. Some lucha from Walter and Elgin to start. I’m kidding. Just seeing if you’re paying attention. Elgin manages a vertical suplex for two. Moss hits a spinwheel kick on Brodie and takes Walker out over the top rope. DIVE BY MOSS! DIVE BY ELGIN! Poor Bryce and Drew are at the announce table scared out of their mind. Moss and Elgin control Walter. Asking him to sell wasn’t a fantastic idea. Brodie in but he eats a headbutt. Sitdown powerbomb gives Lee and Walter the advantage. Heat segment. Moss makes a comeback and executes a couple of fine high-flying moves. Here comes Elgin. Bit of an awkward sequence between these two. Contact made between Walter and Lee nearly costs them. Pumphandle driver for two. Elgin puts both VAN WALTER AND LEE ON HIS BACK. DOUBLE SAMOAN DROP! SWEET JEBUS! The crowd couldn’t care less, but that was amazing. Lee breaks out a hurancanrana. LARIAT by Walter on Elgin for two as Moss breaks the count. Walter and Lee can’t finish Moss. Elgin hits a DVD in the corner. Dropkick by Walter? Stereo suplexes. Moss lifts Walter on his shoulder. Elgin hits a shoulder tackle. Clothesline on Lee. German suplex on Lee. Elgin hits a twisting senton for three. This was so much better than I thought it would be. These four guys used athleticism in combination with their power. Moss and Elgin particularly impressed with their movement inside the ring. Stoked they won the match too.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Johnny Moss and Michael Elgin/14:15/***1/4
-Karsten Beck vs. Necro Butcher
Match in Five Words or Less: Meh
Match Summary/Analysis: Beck was on the show last year and showed himself off to be a geek after being beaten up by Nick Gage. But this year, he’s a got a belt. Apparently, he’s one half of the wXw tag team champions. I still don’t believe this guy is a star. Beck’s promo doesn’t come across too well because the audio ain’t so good. Necro immediately headbutts him. Beck says more things before throwing chairs in the ring. Necro is bleeding already. They have a sitting punch contest. Necro would have won, but Beck takes a cheap shot. Beck controls of the match, and it’s not very good. Necro’s ora has been ruined by overuse and injury. Gulak makes fun of South Philly to amuse himself. The announcing and banter between Gulak and Remsburg turned out to be a million times more entertaining in this match. These two brawl all over the building while the crowd… just sort of sits there. Necro uses Gulak’s belt to wipe blood off his head. What an ugly belt. Necrorana into a roll-up… gets two. Oy vey. Beck kisses the female referee. He takes advantage by low blowing Necro and rolling him up for the pin. Boring match that felt like it went about 18 hours.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Karsten Beck/8:45/*
-Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly vs. (Leaders of the New School) Marty Scurll and Zack Sabre Jr.
Match in Five Words or Less: Very Good
Match Summary/Analysis: The Cole and O’Reilly team probably has no business being as successful as it’s turned out to be. This is the third different country these teams have met each other in. Leaders of the New School are 2-0, and it shows. Cole disrespects Sabre Jr. right away. I assume something happened at the 16 Karat tournament to inspire what Cole did. Good fast-paced mat wrestling to start. Cole comes in to face Scurll and acts heelish. Scurll and Sabre Jr. control the pace and work over both guys. Double sitting reverse chinlocks. O’Reilly catches Scurll, and that leads to Cole nailing him with a dropkick. Heat segment. Amazing how good Cole and O’Reilly are even as heels. That’s the mark of a great team, when they can perform on either side of the fence and still have excellent matches. A number of great teases of the hot tag. Scurll hits a lungblower off the second rope on O’Reilly, and the tag is made. Sabre Jr. and O’Reilly hit each other really hard. Cross armbreaker but Cole breaks the hold. Scurll hits a dive on Cole while Sabre Jr. hit a tiger driver on O’Reilly. Crowd finally wakes up from their show long slumber. Cole and O’Reilly appear to pin Scurll with a series of movies, the he’s not dead yet. Torture rack into a backbreaker on Cole gets Scurll a 2.99999 count. O’Reilly makes his own comeback and locks in a submission on Scurll. Sabre bails his partner out. Cole dives on him. All four men kick each other in the face, and everyone is down. Strike exchange among all four men. Unbelievable. Sabre with vicious headbutts on O’Reilly. Sabre dumped to the floor HARD! Cole and O’Reilly with more tandem offense. Sabre saves his partner again. Double knees by Scurll. Series of kicks lead to Cole breaking a potential three count. I have no idea who’s legal, and the referee appears to have given up too. Sabre sets up for a Michinoku driver. Scurll dropkicks him and sentons O’Reilly. Out of nowhere, O’Reilly rolls him up for a three count. These two teams probably went too far with all the wacky finishes, but this was an excellent match and the best thing on the show so far. O’Reilly and Cole are really developing into a solid team.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly/15:44/***1/2
-wXw Unified World Championship: Daisuke Sekimoto (champion) vs. Chris Hero
Match in Five Words or Less: A Little Stiff
Match Summary/Analysis: This match is why I decided to watch the show. At least the rest of the show has been passable this time around. I understand Hero is working these wXw shows primarily because he wanted the chance to work with the champion. Hero works the arm. Sekimoto easily hits a bodyslam. Hero shifts his attention to working the left leg. Things get a little testy as they engage in a shoulder tackle contest. Hero uses his speed to hit a dropkick. Shoulder tackle by Sekimoto. Chop time. Really digging how they worked this match. Typically, Hero uses a lot of strikes and power type moves, but if he tries to engage Sekimoto in this type of battle, he’s likely not to fare well. Hero goes for a senton and nearly gets German suplexed to hell. First elbow strike attempt misses. Crowd oos and aas a bit. Ridiculous strike exchange before Sekimoto hits a fine looking dropkick. Sekimoto slows the pace down. Boston crab but Hero quickly gets to the ropes. Hero hits a roaring elbow, but Sekimoto doesn’t appear to be phased. Hero hangs from the apron, but Sekimoto suplexes him back inside without appearing to work very hard. Hero starts his comeback with a huge elbow. Cravatbuster. Both men are down. Chop exchange leads to Hero taking Sekimoto down with an elbow. Standing moonsault gets no reaction from the Philly crowd. Who are these people and why don’t they like wrestling? Moonsault off the top misses. Sekimoto hits a missile dropkick off the second rope. Wow. Torture rack but Hero hooks a chinlock. BACKDROP DRIVER! Bodyslam and Sekimoto goes up top. Frog splash met with knees. Elbow strike by Hero gets 2.9. Hero goes for the knockout blows. PILEDRIVER! 1-2-NO! Hangmen’s elbow attempt reversed into a backslide. La Maestral by Sekimoto. Swinging boot IN THE FACE! 1-2-NO! What an incredible match in front of a silent crowd. Series of counters leads to a pele kick by Sekimoto. LARIAT! HERO KICKS OUT AT ONE! Pad comes off. LARIAT BY SEKIMOTO! 1-2-NOOO! O’Connor roll into the deadlift German suplex. 1-2-NO! LARIAT! 1-2-NO! Another deadlift finally ends Hero’s hopes of winning the wXw heavy weight title. This was an incredible match. Not a surprise but these two beat the hell out of each other for our enjoyment. These two guys put forth a tremendous effort, and I continue to be in awe of how awesome both guys are. I only wish this was the main event.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Daisuke Sekimoto/24:47/****1/4
-As the ropes are taken down, they show a special shoot style match from the Amibition promotion. No pinfalls. Submission or knockouts only. The match took place on July 4, 2010 during Bryan Danielson’s return to the indies. His opponent was someone who showed a lot earlier on the iPPV, Johnny Moss. I’m definitely not a fan of intermissions for iPPVs at all, but at least they made use of the time to show a cool bonus match. This definitely had the feel of an amateur wrestling or catch as catch can bout. How ironic we go from watching this to then watching a vicious barb wire match in the main event. Announcers tried to explain some of the rules, but I was still confused by a lot of what I saw. Not my cup of tea, but there’s a definitely an audience for something like this with UFC and MMA being so prevalent in society. Danielson wins with MMA elbows. Not going to try and rate this match.
-Barbed Wire Match: Jun Kasai (CZW Ultraviolent Champion) vs. Drake Younger
Match in Five Words or Less: It Is What It Is
Match Summary/Analysis: Gotta love how the crowd has been comatose for much of the night, but the minute Jun Kasai walks out, they go crazy for him. Younger is wearing gear similar to that of a boxer and calling himself a golden boy. He’ll be red boy by the end of this contest. Bryce Remsburg and Drew Gulak also comment on the fans being into this match. This is the first ever barbed wire match on iPPV. Look, there are certain people who love this type of match. I’m not one of them. I could rant and rave, but I’ve said my piece many times. I won’t even give this a rating. The backs on these guys are disgusting, and I have to question their sanity. Also, major props to all the people who brought kids to see this wonderful barbed wire contest. Quality work. Lots of spots into the wire of course. There’s also a ladder and some barbed wire boards too. J.C Bailey’s name is dropped by Younger before double stomping Kasai off a ladder. Kasai actually comes off the barbed wire willingly. He wouldn’t pass a sanity test. No way. Kasai drops Younger on his head through the barbed wire board to finally get the victory. Mercy.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Jun Kasai/15:05/N/R
Line of the Night: Drew Gulak during the main events said, “Everyone knows the traffic cone is the most dangerous weapon the combat zone.” It was funny… and it rhymed.
Finish of the Night: Elgin hitting a twisting senton to win his match. Great finish to a very fun match.
MVP: Chris Hero did a great job in his match against Sekimoto. It was blatantly obvious how much Hero wanted to work with him based on how well these two worked together.
The Verdict: If you’re into the barbed wire stuff, I’m sure the main event will be right up your alley. If not, shut the show off just before the main event because there is some darn good wrestling throughout the rest of the show. Hero and Sekimoto is a borderline match of the year candidate. There are two really fun tag team matches that eat up a lot of time. Plus, there is the bonus match during the intermission which was a unique battle with very different rules than most other matches I watch. Special props to Bryce and Drew for doing an excellent job of getting certain matches over and explaining things. I’ve watched a lot of these internet shows, and for two guys who aren’t regular announcers, I was very impressed by what I heard. I also appreciated their subtle burial of the Philadelphia crowd. Where some announcers would have ignored it, they at least acknowledged what bloodthirsty individuals these people are and did it in a way where they came across as cynical and negative. I could tak e notes on how to be that nice.